GABAA receptor modulation during adolescence alters adult ethanol intake and preference in rats

To determine if GABA A modulation during adolescence increases the likelihood of alcohol abuse in adulthood, the effect of adolescent administration of positive and negative GABA A modulators on adult alcohol preference was assessed. Three groups of adolescent male rats received injections of lorazepam, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), or vehicle on alternate days from postnatal day (PD) 35 to 65. The acute effects of each drug on food intake were measured under two levels of food access. Ethanol preference was assessed when subjects reached adulthood (PD 90) by giving each group access to three bottles containing water, saccharin, or an ethanol/saccharin solution (0.05% saccharin with 5, 10, or 18% ethanol). In adolescence, lorazepam administration significantly increased food intake on injection days compared to noninjection days and to DHEA and vehicle, and this effect was enhanced by mild food restriction. DHEA significantly decreased food intake compared to noninjection days, but not compared to vehicle‐treated subjects. In adulthood, lorazepam‐treated subjects preferred the two lowest concentrations of ethanol/saccharin over saccharin alone, whereas both vehicle‐treated and DHEA‐treated subjects showed no preference for ethanol/saccharin over saccharin. These data demonstrate that GABA A modulation during adolescence alters preference for ethanol in adulthood. AA019848‐01